Rangers News

Rangers announce team award winners

The New York Rangers have announced the 2013 team award winners, including the Rangers’ MVP, the Players’ Player Award, the John Halligan Good Guy Award and the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

The Rangers’ MVP, voted on by the New York Rangers media, was awarded to Henrik Lundqvist. This is the seventh consecutive year that he has won the award, which marks a franchise record. Lundqvist is tied for first in the league with 24 wins, ranks seventh with a 2.05 goals against average, and is tied for fifth with a .926 save percentage.

Henrik Lundqvist

The Players’ Player Award, voted on by the Rangers players, was given to Ryan Callahan. The award recognizes the Rangers player who best exemplifies what it means to be a teammate. This is the third consecutive year that Callahan has won the award. Callahan was also named winner of the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award earlier this season. Voted on by the fans and recognizing the player who performs “above and beyond the call of duty,” the award is named after New York City police officer Steven McDonald, who was shot and injured in the call of duty in November of 1988. This award has been given annually to the player who fans believe plays with extra effort on the ice. Callahan joined Adam Graves as the only players who have won the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award four times, having previously captured the honor in 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2011-12.

Callahan registered 16 goals and 15 assists for 31 points, along with 12 penalty minutes in 45 games this season. He ranked fourth on the Rangers in points and third in goals. He also leads NHL forwards in blocked shots (66), is ninth among all skaters in hits (154) and 19th in power play goals (six).

The John Halligan Good Guy Award, selected by the NY chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA), was awarded to Dan Girardi. The award is named in honor of John Halligan, a longtime Rangers and NHL Public Relations executive, who passed away in 2010, and recognizes players’ cooperation with the media. Girardi registered two goals and 12 assists for 14 points, along with 16 penalty minutes this season. He leads the league with 125 blocked shots and ranks eighth in the league in time on ice, averaging 25:24 per game.

Marc Staal has been named the Rangers’ nominee for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, an annual award under the trusteeship of the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association to the “the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.” Staal, who has missed the last 27 games with an eye injury sustained on March 5th, led all Rangers defensemen with nine assists and 11 points at the time of his injury. The Rangers posted a record 6-1-2 in games when he recorded a point this season.